In brief

Tories' council opposes culture

AROUND 300 people demonstrated in North Finchley, London, on Saturday against the threat from Barnet's Tory council to halt construction of the Community Arts Centre.

Almost the first act of the Tory council that took office in May was to stop the rebuilding of Barnet football ground. Now they are trying to stop the development of the arts centre that will have a 400-seat theatre, 150-seat studio, dance and drama studios, and venues for use by community groups.

It's better than a rubbish deal now

A POSSIBLE all-out strike by bin workers in South Gloucestershire has been halted following last-ditch talks between contractor Sita and the TGWU union. The bin workers had threatened a five-day strike next week after rejecting a 4 percent pay offer as derisory.

But Sita put forward a modified offer that gave a 6 percent increase to the collection teams and 4 percent to office staff and other grades. Bin workers in South Gloucestershire are still up to £60 a week worse off than their colleagues in Bristol.

Stores empire is going for India

OVER 1,000 workers at the Reality call centre in Widnes are poised for a strike ballot. The centre is part of the Great Universal Stores empire. Many other workers across north west England may also be involved. The company has started sending calls to Bangalore in India when its own system is busy.

Staff are also being asked to go home during 'quiet' periods. Bill Connor, the general secretary of the Usdaw shop workers' union, says, 'Ever since calls were diverted abroad, staff have been asked to stand down. 'The company claims this is not linked to outsourcing but our members just don't believe it.'

Revolts from the new authorities

THREE HOUSING organisations in the Southside of Glasgow have written to Scottish first minister Jack McConnell to demand that the planned housing stock transfer is postponed. Many housing organisations feel they are being manipulated and that all the promises that were made before the ballot in March have not been kept. A letter from the Southside organisations states that they will 'not be exploited for political expediency'.

The chaos in Glasgow shows how right it is for people to vote against housing stock transfer and to keep their homes with the council while demanding public investment.

Lib Dems rat on a promise

PARENTS AND pupils held another lobby of the council in the latest stage to save Anfield comprehensive school in Liverpool last week. Parents are furious that the Liberal Democrat council is going back on a previous claim that Anfield school would not be merged with nearby Breckfield school to form a City Academy. Parents are determined to keep up the campaign

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